Barbara Mail, Art

Barbara Mail teaches art in grades K-8. Certified in elementary education as well as art, she came to Green Woods Charter School in September 2003 to teach 2nd grade and began teaching art the following year. Previously, she taught K-2 for 3 years for the School District of Philadelphia. Before becoming an elementary school teacher, Ms. Mail held the position of Senior Lecturer in the Crafts Department at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia for 16 years and was invited to give lectures/workshops at colleges and universities throughout the United States. She holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Fine Arts Degrees in Gold and Silversmithing. Her Elementary Education Certification is from the University of Pennsylvania.

Before becoming a teacher of young children, Ms. Mail made her living as a fine art jeweler, exhibiting her work nationally and abroad. Her art can be found in public and private collections throughout the United States. She was awarded 4 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Visual Artist Fellowships, and 3 Venture Fund Grants endowed by the Paul Mellon Foundation for her work. Her jewelry pieces often contain fragile natural elements such as moth wing fragments, discarded bits of seashell, flamingo feathers, and shards carved from the nut of a palm tree. Her love of nature has been developing since her early days in art school. Green Woods Charter School allows her to combine her love of nature with her love of art to nurture the creative process in all of Green Woods’ students.

Teaching at Green Woods Charter School has allowed me to focus on the things I hold dear: nature and art. The beauty of this work environment inspires me each day, in all seasons, and urges me to pass on my love of nature to the next generation. The intricate vein pattern of a leaf, the exquisite curve of a branch, or the simple hinge mechanism which allows a box turtle to protect itself might become inspiration for a third grade art project while simultaneously serving as an amazing connection to the world around us.

I am constantly challenged by my K-8 colleagues to create art projects which will not only inspire the students but will also help to support the academic curriculum in each classroom. As a faculty we have been working together to develop our own curriculum which uses the environment and ecology standards as its core. In this process, we are entrusted with a great deal of flexibility and control over what we teach and how we teach it. We are encouraged to be creative in our approach to teaching and supported by meaningful professional development. I feel a tremendous responsibility to instill in our students respect for the delicate balance of nature. As we pass on this stewardship through our teaching, the world is truly in our hands.

Jean Wallace, Academic Director

As the Academic Director and CEO, Jean is responsible for guiding the design and implementation of our unique K-8 curriculum and for supporting the direction of all areas of school life. Jean works in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and Green Woods' Business Director to build on our successful past toward an even greater future.

Jean is responsible to the Department of Education for ensuring that Green Woods students are receiving a standards-based learning experience within the guidelines and mandates of Federal, State, and Charter School Law. In addition to the many responsibilities associated with curriculum and instruction, Jean supports Green Woods through successful grant writing, ongoing website communication, developing our student voice through the Jr. SLT, and by networking with key partners from within and outside the Green Woods community.

Jean's volunteer efforts as a member of the Governor's Council for Environmental Education provide a rare and exciting opportunity to work with many of the state's environmental experts and agencies. "By working collaboratively with the Department of Education and the many outstanding environmental agencies throughout our state, Green Woods is able to gain both valuable resources along with well-deserved recognition for the exceptional work being done by our teachers and students," Jean said. "Our innovative curriculum design allows us to use environment and ecology as the theme for integrated learning. Receiving the 2007 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence was proof of our success in delivering a high quality educational program at Green Woods."

In addition to the daily interactions with Green Woods dedicated staff and parents, Jean enjoys those special times when she gets to trail along on hikes with our budding naturalists. "Hiking with even our youngest students and seeing how they interact with the natural world is always an incredible learning experience for me. While many young children enjoy walking in the woods, Green Woods students are skilled observers, able to take in the big picture of the field ecosystem while at the same time patiently exploring the leaf litter in search of the smallest signs of life."

Jean holds a PA Certification for Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction and dual Pennsylvania teacher certifications, which recognize her ability to teach both K-12 Environmental Education and Elementary Education. She holds an Associate Degree in Health Science from Gwynedd Mercy College; a BA in Elementary Education from Beaver College, and a MAEd in Environmental Education from Arcadia University. Jean is currently enrolled in a post-graduate School Leadership Program at Arcadia.

Jean lives in Flourtown with her husband Frank, her mom Mary, her daughter Mary who attends the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University, and their black lab, Murphy.